Patients
History of Substance Abuse and Need Surgery: Now What?
Every patient approaching surgery should be concerned about persistent opioid use, Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), addiction, and leftover prescription medications. One group should have grave concerns—those patients who have a history of Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The Opioid Crisis has now raged on for over two decades. As a result, it is estimated over 20…
Read MoreDemand 21st Century Surgery with Healthcare Advocacy
It sounded like a miracle, but it wasn’t — it was a result of sound healthcare advocacy on behalf of a patient. One day after undergoing a colorectal operation to remove cancer, the patient was up and about and asking to go home. Don’t let your employees, your plans, or your patients suffer through second-rate surgeries.…
Read MoreMove Women’s Surgeries Out of the 19th Century with Health Navigators
Would you accept using the same technology in place in 1843 for well, anything? I wouldn’t. So it makes me wonder why so many physicians continue to use invasive approaches to that date to that period. Having a health navigator or a patient advocate service on your side as you go through this life-changing procedure…
Read MoreFinding Health Equity in Surgery and Recovery
Finding Health Equity in Surgery and Recovery Bias, both unintentional and intentional, contribute to differences in the quality of care received by patients in the United States. The consequences of these disparities can be catastrophic to patients and their families. A 2002 report to Congress –just as relevant today as it was 20 years ago—detailed…
Read MoreThe Risk of Costly Suboptimal Surgery Has Never Been Greater
The Risk of Suboptimal Surgery Has Never Been Greater (due to Covid-19) Thankfully, rays of sunlight have appeared through the darkness of the Covid-19 pandemic. As life returns to “normal,” healthcare no doubt will resume traditional patterns as well. This leaves business, employee benefits and human resource leaders facing critical questions, including: How do I…
Read MorePatients Who Manage Post-Surgery Pain Best Know This
Patients Who Manage Post-Surgery Pain Best Know This If you’ve spent any time in the aisles of your local pharmacy, you know there are A LOT of non-prescription medications available. Hundreds of options exist for cough, cold, allergies, pain and other conditions. And, for the most part, that is a really good thing. Easier access—no…
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know to Prepare for the Best Experience in Surgery and Recovery
What You Need to Know to Prepare for the Best Experience in Surgery and Recovery By Mario Leyba, MD, and Brand Newland, PharmD An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure Going into surgery as healthy as possible is among the most important things you can do to prepare for successful recovery and…
Read MoreWhat VCRs and Outdated Surgery Instructions Have in Common
What VCRs and Outdated Surgery Instructions Have in Common By Mario Leyba, MD It seemed innocent enough. A pre-surgery instruction sheet handed to a Goldfinch patient several weeks ago, in advance of a procedure we eventually helped the patient to successfully navigate. If you’ve had surgery yourself—or seen a loved one go through it—you’ve probably…
Read MoreA Global Pandemic, Delayed Surgery, and You
A Global Pandemic, Delayed Surgery, and You By Mario Leyba, MD, and Brand Newland, PharmD Thousands of surgeries have been postponed since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. As compared to 2019, knee replacements are down 68%, hip replacements are down 52% and cancer surgeries are down 18%. As a patient forced to change plans,…
Read MorePulling Back the Curtain on Physician Referrals
Pulling Back the Curtain on Physician Referrals Over 100,000 times today in the United States, a visit between a patient and his/her physician ended with something like this: “I recommend you speak with a surgeon.” That simple statement sets a complex set of wheels in motion, not the least of which are the wheels turning…
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